U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla announced on Friday, July 26, that he secured an initial $200 million to establish a bus leasing program, regional traffic management systems and dedicated bus lanes ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved the funding in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2025. The Senate appropriations bill will now be reconciled with the House’s version before a final version can be enacted.
The bus leasing program will build on the successful model used in Atlanta in 1996 and Salt Lake City in 2002. It will facilitate the donation or leasing of buses or bus operators from public transit agencies throughout the United States to Los Angeles public transit agencies and the LA Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2028.
“With the Olympic and Paralympic Games headed to Los Angeles in just four short years, we must continue making critical investments in planning and preparing our transportation infrastructure,” said Padilla. “The 2028 Games are a tremendous opportunity to showcase the United States on the world stage, but Los Angeles cannot do it alone. Partnerships between the federal government, local transit agencies and everyone on the ground in Los Angeles are crucial to making the Games a success.”
The Committee also directed the Department of Transportation (DOT) to expedite technical assistance and to help provide federal resources, funding, approvals and waivers in a timely manner to help prepare for the 2028 LA Games and the 2026 World Cup, which will feature matches in LA and the San Francisco Bay Area.
The Appropriations Committee directed the secretary of transportation to report on the full scope of DOT’s transportation infrastructure obligations and the host locations’ projected resource needs for the Games for fiscal year 2026 through fiscal year 2029.